Man jailed 12 years for defilement

A 19-year-old farmer at Kromame, a community in the Ho Municipality, has been sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by the Ho Circuit Court for defiling a six-year-old kindergarten pupil.

The convict, Agbesi Gbali, dragged the little girl into a nearby bush after enticing her with GH¢1 and sexually abused her.

He admitted the charge of defilement when he appeared before the court, presided over by Ms Mariama Sammo.

  Facts
The prosecutor, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Isaac A. A. Ahor, told the court that the victim lived with her grandparents at Kromame, while Gbali lived with his parents in the same vicinity.

He said on March 24, 2014, the victim and her friend were on their way home from school when they saw Gbali sitting under an orange tree. 

He invited them to come for money. The victim, who got enticed, went for the money but her friend refused.

Immediately the victim got to Gbali, he dragged her into a nearby bush, while her friend hid in the bush to observe what would happen.

Gbali then laid the girl on the ground and sexually abused her.

She shouted for help but to no avail. 
Her friend then rushed home and informed her mother about the incident. 

  Fear
However, the victim did not inform her grandparents when she got home because she was afraid she would be punished.

The friend's mother, based on the information given her, reported the matter to the victim's grandmother, after which they reported the case at the Ho Central Police Station.

The matter was later referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit for further investigations.

The prosecutor indicated that a medical form was issued to the victim to attend hospital for examination and the result proved she had been defiled.

Gbali was subsequently arrested, and in his caution statement, he admitted the offence.